Aqueduct Betting: Groupie Doll Takes on Boys in Cigar Mile

Just three weeks after she trounced the ladies winning the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), the Buff Bradley trained Groupie Doll is back to seek her fourth Grade 1 win of the year, taking on males on Saturday in the $350,000 Cigar Mile (G1) at Aqueduct.

The filly is the 8-5 morning line favorite in the race, which drew a field of seven and will go off as the eighth race on the card at the Big A that includes three other graded stakes.

The other stakes on Saturday’s card are the $350,000 Gazelle (G1) for three-year-old fillies, the $250,000 Remsen (G2) for two-year-olds, and the $250,000 Demoiselle (G2) for two-year-old fillies.

Groupie Doll comes into the Cigar Mile riding a five race win streak, which includes three wins in Grade 1 races and a pair of Grade 2 victories. If she wins the race on Saturday she will certainly enter into the discussion for Horse of the Year honors.

Let’s head out to Aqueduct for Saturday’s featured betting race of the day:

Aqueduct Race 8 The Cigar Mile G1 (Post time 3:20 ET)

7 Groupie Doll 8-5

1 Stay Thirsty 7-2

4 Jersey Town 4-1

6 Coil 8-1

Analysis: Groupie Doll takes on the boys here just three weeks after capturing the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), her fifth consecutive win. The filly was out six wide at the 5'8's and four wide on the turn, drawing off in the stretch to win by 4 1/2 widening lengths. She was one of the few that made up ground or raced wide that had much of an impact on the day as the racing surface was kind to inside speed that day. She has earned solid figs going a one turn mile and she should get a good pace set up in here as it looks as if the early pace will be contested among the three breaking from the inside. If she rolls over this field the way she beat her own sex the past few races she enters the conversation for Horse of the Year.

Stay Thirsty skipped the Breeders' Cup after a solid performance in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Belmont Park. The colt dueled for the early lead and entered in the stretch with the lead and it appeared he was going to back up but just kept on plugging away, beaten just a head by Flat Out. He was better than five lengths clear of Fort Larned, who came back to win the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). The Pletcher trainee won the Travers (G1) and Jim Dandy (G2) last year but is 0 for 4 in 2012. He breaks from the rail with both Associate and Buffum to his outside, and they are both quick. Ramon should be able to get a good trip sitting just off those two and should get the jump on the late runners.

Jersey Town pulled off the upset in this race back in 2010 at 34-1, and then lost his next seven starts before taking the Kelso (G2) in September in a sharp effort. He checked in fifth in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) last out, drifting out in the stretch. He caught a racing strip that was playing to inside speed and the trip came at two turns. He cuts back to one turn here.

Michael’s Best Plays Report is available each Saturday and Sunday and features his strongest plays from major tracks along with his analysis and selections for major stakes each weekend. His Report includes his selections, analysis, fair odds line, and wagering recommendations for his top plays, usually from tracks in New York, Kentucky, and Florida.